Ski



H. A. RASS pri 23, QSS

SKI

5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 1966 H/VS H. A. RASS Apri 23, i968 SKI 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

INVENTOR. HAI/VJ' 4. @A .5x51

H. A. RASS Apr 23, was

SKI

Filed Nov. 1, 196e 3 Sheets-Sheet JNVENTOR. #4A/J 4. 24mg /OTTOBA/EYS. I

United States Patent O 3,379,449 SKI Hans A. Rass, 303 St. Lawrence Ave., Beloit, Wis. 53511 Filed Nev. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 591,296 9 Claims. (Cl. 280-12) This invention relates to a ski having a movable handle and ground-engaging outriggers.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of the kind indicated, which renders singlerunner ski-ing safer, more feasible, and more easily controlled, for use 'by beginners, children, and other inexperienced or physically unconditioned persons, as well as thy more skilled persons.

IIn skiing maneuvers, especially in executing turns, some diiculty and danger is present for the less experienced skier, especially at higher speeds, which difficulty and danger are eliminated or substantially reduced by the presence, on the device, of resiliently mounted outriggers, having ground-engaging shoes, whose action is to prevent over-tilting of the device as the device is edged to make turns.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a left-'hand side elevation of a device of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the device;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary left-hand side elevation of the device, partly vbroken away and in section;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged front elevation of the device, partly broken away and in section;

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary side elevation, taken from the line 5-S of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section, taken on the line 7--7 -of FIGURE 6;

l'FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section, on the scale of FIGURE 7, taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 i-s a side elevation of FIGURE 8; and,

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary rear elevation, taken from the line 10-10 of FIGURE 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated device comprises a substantially conventional ski runner 12, having an upturned forward end portion 14, and side edges 14. Suitably secured upon the upper surface of the runner 12, at a conventional location thereon, is ski-boot fastening means 16, and spaced in front of the means 16, is a control handle base 18.

'The base 18 comprises a pair of similar, parallel side plates 20, which, at locations intermedia-te their ends, are spaced and connected by a flat horizontal cross member 22, adapted, as shown in FIGURE 7, to rest upon the upper surface of the runner 12. On the lower edges of the side plates are' similar, horizontal forwardly and rearwardly extending, front and rear tabs 24 and 26, respecf tively, which are separated from the lower edges of theA plates, by front and rear horizontal keyhole slots 28 and 30, respectively. At their inner ends, the slots 28, 30 have enlarged diameter end portions 32. At their outer ends, the `tabs 2'4, 26 are traversed by screws 34, which are threaded into the side edges 14', of the runner 12, for holding the base in place thereon. The tabs are bendable, to accommodate ski runners of different widths.

Formed in the horizontal upper edges 36 of the base side plates 20, adja'cent to the ends thereof, are similar front and rear notches 38 and 40, respectively, whose outer edges 42 are formed with forwardly and rearwardly extending front and rear horizontal slots 44 and 46, respectively. The slots 44, 46 are provided to receive the shanks 48, of pivot pins 50, having enlarged heads 5'2, on

their outer ends. The heads 52 bear against the outer sides of the side plates 20. The pins 50 are held in the slots 44, 46 by means of horizontally elongated, relatively narrow retainers 54, having inwardly deflected end portions S6, whose ends 58 engage the Shanks 48. The retainers are held removably in place on the outer sides of the side plates, `by bolts 60, traversing the side plates and the retainers. As shown in FIGURE 7, the retainers have, on their upper edges, outwardly extending anges 62, which bear upon the upper edges of the side plates.

The headed pins 50 can, as shown in FIGURE 7, be in lthe forrn of Ibolts whose Shanks 48 extend Ithrough the side anges 64, of yfront and rear upstanding channel standards 66 `and 68, respectively, and have thereon nuts 63, 'bearing against the inner sides of the flanges. The standards 66 yand 68 have webs 70. The web of the rear standard 68 is formed, from its lower edge, with a notch 72, large enough to provide clearance, if desired, for the -toe of a ski boot (not shown) fastened lon Ithe runner 12, behind the vbase 18. The standards 66, 68 are otherwise similar, and are 'of the same height, but `are in reversed relation to each other, the -opening of the front standard facing to the rear and the opening of the rear standard to the front. The rear standard extends above and is longer than lthe front standard. The above-described arrangements ofthe standards provides for their swinging yforward-ly and rearwardly, in parallelism, relative to the base 20.

A hollow rectangular saddle 74 is mounted lon the upper ends of the standards 66, 68. The saddle '74 comprises a horizontal top wall 76, parallel side walls 78, and parallel front and rear walls and 82, respectively, and is open at its bottom. The top wall 76 is formed =with a central longitudinal parallel sided slot 84. On the top wall are pendant longitudinal walls I86 which extend 'to and are yfixed to the front and rear walls 80, 82.

At intervals spaced from the front and rear walls, -of the saddle 74, and vat points spaced from each other, the pendant longitudinal walls 86 are traversed fby transverse horizontal hinge pins 88, which traverse also the side fanges of the front and rear standards 66, 68. The hinge pins 88 are held in lplace, as by means of snap rings 90, engaged on their ends, and bearing against the outer sides of the pendant wa-lls 86, as sho-wn in FIGURE 4.

A downwardly and forwardly curved leaf spring 92, eX- tends downwardly and forwardly from an upper part of the front standard 66, to the ski runner 12, and serves to bias the handle assembly 94, including the standards and the saddle 74, to a normal, rearward, perpendicular relationship to the ski runner 12. At its upper end the spring 92 is secured to the web of the front standard 66, by suitable means, such as screws 96. At its forward end, the spring 92 is secured to the upper surface of the ski runner 12, by means of an anchor assembly 98.

The anchor assembly 98 comprises, as shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9, a flat rectangular plate 100, fixed, as by means of screws 102, to the runner 12, at a point spaced at a substantial distance forwardly from the handle assembly base 20, and adjacent to the upturned forward end portion 14 of the runner 12. The plate 100 is formed, in its side edges 104, with transversely aligned rectangular notches 106, positioned intermediate the ends of the plate. On the forward edges of the notches 106 are upstanding ears 108, disposed at right angles to the plate. On the rear edges of the notches 106 are upwardly and rearwardly directed lugs 110.

At a location adjacent to the squared forward end 112, of the spring 92, its side edges 114 are formed with rectangular notches 116, of a length slightly greater than the distance between the front sides of the ears 108, and the rear sides of the bends of the lugs 110. As shown in FIGURE 9, the terminal end portion 118, of the spring 92, forwardly of the notches 116, is bent at an upward angle, relative to the remainder of the spring, as the narrow portion 120, of the spring between the ends of the notches 116 lies flat upon the plate 100, with the front ends 122, of the notches 116 engaged with the forward sides of the ears, and with the rear ends 124, of the notches 116, engaged with the rear sides of the bands of the lugs 110. This arrangement is achieved by engaging the rear ends of the notches 116 under the lugs 110, and then forcing the forward ends of these notches behind the ears 108,

Resilient outriggers 126 extend laterally outwardly and downwardly, at acute angles, from the saddle 74, and are mounted thereto, at their upper ends. The outriggers comprise ground-engaging shoes 130, shaped substantially like sabots, or wooden shoes, of vertical rectangular cross section, as shown in FIGURE 4, and having opposed sides 132, relative to which flat horizontal sole surfaces 134 are disposed at right angles, and have ground-engaging inner edges 136. The soles 134 terminating in rear ends 138. At their forward ends, the sole surfaces 134 have upcurved forward end portions 140, which have upwardly and laterally outwardly angled flat surfaces 142. In engagement with snow, the angled surfaces 142 tend to force the shoes 130 inwardly toward the runner 12.

Triangular longitudinal risers 144, of inverted channel form, have side walls 146, which, at their lower edges, are aiiixed to the sides of the shoes, as indicated at 148. The risers 144 have top walls 150, which form downwardly and forwardly bowed ramps, which at their elevated rear ends, are close to the upper ends of rear walls 152, of the risers.

Flat, normally erect front spring struts 154, which normally are disposed at acute outward angles, relative to the runner 12, are transversely hinged, at their lower ends, as indicated at 156, to the forward ends of the shoes 130. At their upper ends, the front struts 154 have affixed, as indicated at 158, to their rear sides, spring reinforcing plates 160, which extend thereabove. Right triangular plates 162 are afxed to the front sides of the plates 160 and extend thereabove. At their laterally outward corners, where their base and hypotenuse edges intersect, the plates 162 are pivoted, as indicated at 164, to the front wall 80, of the saddle 74, at locations near the saddle side walls 78. The altitude edges 16, of the plates 162 are adapted to bear against stops 168, which are adjustable in horizontal slots 170, in the saddle front wall. A contractile coil spring 172 is stretched between and is connected to the upper ends of the plates 162.

Rear spring struts 174, generally similar to the front struts 154, are fixed, at their lower ends, as indicated at 176, to the front sides of the vertical portions 178, of bowed flat springs 180, which are suitably fixed, at their horizontal rear ends, as indicated at 182, to the at horizontal upper surfaces 184, of the shoes 130.

At their upper ends, the rear struts 174 have flat triangular plates 186, similar to the front strut plates 162, which. are pivoted, as indicated at 188, to the rear sides of rear wall portions 82, of the saddle 74, and have a contractile coil spring 190 stretched between and connected to their upper ends.

The outriggers 126 further comprise relatively rigid, shallow channel arms 192, having webs 194, and forwardly extending side walls 196. The webs 194 terminate in lower ends 198, which are spaced upwardly from the lower ends 200, of the side walls 196. At their lower ends, the side walls 196 slidably engage the inner and outer sides of the risers and the shoes. The channel arms 192, at their upper ends, have their webs pivoted, at the front sides of the saddle rear wall portions 82, on the pivots 188, of the rear struts 174.

Relatively short at spring tongues 202 are affixed to the rear sides of the webs of the channel arms and extend below the lower ends 198, of the latter, and the tongues have lower ends 204, which bear slidably upon the bowed top walls 150 of the risers 144.

A transverse vertical loop handle 206 is transversely pivoted, as indicated at 208, to structure 210, on the upper" end ofthe rear standard 68, which extends above the saddle 74, and forward and rearward movements of the handle 206, relative to the standard 68, are restricted by engagement of a cross member 212 of the handle, with flat front and rear spring leaves 21.4 and 216, of said structure.

In use and operation, the skier having one booted foot secured upon the runner 12, and the ski being in motion over the ground, with the skier holding the handle 206, turns to either side and returns to erect position, are made by edging the runner 12, in the usual manner, while using lateral pressure upon the handle 206, in a manner to edge the shoes and cause the related outrilggers to move outwardly, relative to the runner 12so as to cause the shoes to have supportive engagement with the ground. This limits and controls tilting of the ski and prevents unsafe overtilting thereof. To come out of a turn, reverse pressure is applied to the handle 206, accompanied *by the usual de-edging of the runner 12.

Pushing forwardly on the handle 206, causes the forward end of the runner 12 to bear more heavily on the ground, while pulling rearwardly on the handle relieves this pressure, and can be used to put more than normal pressure, on the ground, of the rear part of the runner.

What is claimed is:

1. A ski comprising a runner having an upturned forward end portion, a ski boot fastening assembly secured upon the upper surface of the runner at a location inter mediate the ends of the runner, a base secured to the runner at a location spaced between the forward end portion of the runner and said fastening assembly, said base extending above the runner, spaced upstanding front and rear standards pivoted at their lower ends on said base about substantially transverse axes, a saddle overlying the front standard, the rear standard rising above the saddle, the standards being pivoted to the saddle about substantially transverse axes, an upstanding handle connected to said saddle and standards, and outriggers extending downwardly from the saddle at opposite sides of the standards, said outriggers being pivoted adjacent to their upper ends to the saddle aboutsubstantially longitudinal axes, spring means acting between the outriggers at points above the pivotal points of the outriggers, said spring means serving to bias the lower ends of the outriggers laterally outwardly relative to the base, said outriggers normally occupying outwardly and downwardly angled positions relative to the base, and ground-engaging shoes on ithe lower ends of the outriggers.

2. A ski according to claim 1, wherein said outriggers comprise front and rear vertically elongated spring struts, said struts being severally pivoted at their upper ends to the saddle at longitudinally spaced points on the saddle, the lower ends of said struts being secured to longitudinally spaced points on the shoes.

3. A ski according to claim 1, wherein said outriggers comprise front and rear vertically elongated spring struts, said struts being severally pivoted at their upper ends to the saddle at longitudinally spaced points on the saddle, the lower ends of said struts being secured to longitudinally spaced points on the shoes, said Outrigger struts being resilient and flexible, with the front struts pivoted to the shoes, and the rear struts xed to the shoes,l

4. A ski according to claim 1, wherein a downwardly bowed leaf spring extends between the front standard and the ski runner, said spring having an upper end fixed to the upper part of the `front standard and a lower end secured upon the upper surface of the ski runner at a location spaced between the base and the fonward end portion of the ski runner, said leaf spring serving to bias the standards toward and in erect positions.

5. A ski according to claim 1, wherein a downwardly bowed leaf spring extends between the front standard and the ski runner, said spring having an upper end xed to the upper part of the front standard and a lower end secured upon the upper surface of the ski runner at a location spaced between the base and the forward end portion of the ski runner, said leaf spring serving to bias the standards toward and in erect positions, said standards being in spaced parallel relationship.

6. A ski according to claim 1, wherein a downwardly bowed leaf spring extends between the front standard and the ski runner, said spring having an upper end fixed to the upper part of the front standard and a lower end secured upon the upper surface of the ski runner at a location spaced between the base and the Iforward end portion of the ski runner, said leaf spring serving to bias the standards toward and in erect positions, and an anchor assembly fixed upon the upper surface of the ski runner, the forward end of the leaf spring being releasably engaged with the anchor assembly.

7. A ski according to claim 1, wherein said outriggers comprise front and rear vertically elongated spring struts, said struts being severally pivoted at their upper ends to the saddle at longitudinally spaced points on the saddle, the lower ends of said struts being secured to longitudinally spaced points on the shoes, said Outrigger struts being resilient and flexible, with the front struts pivoted to the shoes, and the rear struts fixed to the shoes, said shoes having flat ground-engageable soles having heel ends and upturned forward end portions, the forward Outrigger struts being hinged to the forward ends of the shoes at the elevated ends of said upturned shoe soles, said shoes having risers thereon to which the lower ends of the rear Outrigger struts are exibly secured.

8. A ski according to claim 1, wherein said outriggers comprise front and rear vertically elongated spring struts, said struts being severally pivoted at their upper ends to the saddle at longitudinally spaced points on the saddle, the lower ends of said struts being secured to longitudinally spaced points on the shoes, said Outrigger struts being resilient and flexible, with the front struts pivoted to the shoes, and the rear struts fixed to the shoes, said shoes having fiat ground-engageable soles having heel ends and upturned forward end portions, the forward Outrigger struts being hinged to the forward ends of the shoes at the elevated ends of said upturned shoe soles, said shoes having risers thereon to which the lower ends of the rear Outrigger struts are iiexibly secured, said soles normally occupying outwardly and upwardly angled positions relative to the horizontal, said shoes having squared inner edges at the inner edges of the soles.

9. A ski according to claim 1, wherein said outriggers comprise front and rear vertically elongated spring struts, said struts being severally pivoted at their upper ends to the saddle at longitudinally spaced points on the saddle, the lower ends of said struts being secured to longitudinally spaced points on the shoes, said Outrigger struts being resilient and iiexible, .with the front struts pivoted to the shoes, and the rear struts fixed to the shoes, said shoes having at ground-engageable soles having heel ends and upturned Iforward end portions, the forward Outrigger struts being hinged to the forward ends of the shoes at the elevated ends of said upturned shoe soles, said shoes having risers thereon to which the lower ends of the rear Outrigger struts are exibly secured, said risers havin-g downwardly and forwardly bowed top walls, relatively rigid vertical arms located in front of the yrear struts, said rigid arms having webs and forwardly extending side walls, the webs of the lrigid arms being pivoted to the saddle on the same axes as the rear struts, said side walls extending below the lower ends of the webs and being engaged with the sides of the risers and the shoes, said webs having fixed spring tongues extending below the webs and slidably engaged with the bowed top walls of the risers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,111,005 9/1914 Carlson 280-23 2,392,098 1/1946 Philippar 280--12 2,781,200 2/1957 Robison 280-1L39 3,139,287 6/1964 Annis 280-12 3,336,038 8/1967 Cohen 280-12 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

J. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SKI COMPRISING A RUNNER HAVING AN UPTURNED FORWARD END PORTION, A SKI BOOT FASTENING ASSEMBLY SECURED UPON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE RUNNER AT A LOCATION INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE RUNNER, A BASE SECURED TO THE RUNNER AT A LOCATION SPACED BETWEEN THE FORWARD END PORTION OF THE RUNNER AND SAID FASTENING ASSEMBLY, SAID BASE EXTENDING ABOVE THE RUNNER, SPACED UPSTANDING FRONT AND REAR STANDARDS PIVOTED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS ON SAID BASE ABOUT SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE AXES, A SADDLE OVERLYING THE FRONT STANDARD, THE REAR STANDARD RISING ABOVE THE SADDLE, THE STANDARDS BEING PIVOTED TO THE SADDLE ABOUT SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSE AXES, AN UPSTANDING HANDLE CONNECTED TO SAID SADDLE AND STANDARDS, AND OUTRIGGERS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE SADDLE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STANDARDS, SAID OUTRIGGERS BEING PIVOTED ADJACENT TO THEIR UPPER ENDS TO THE SADDLE ABOUT SUBSTANTIALLY LONGITUDINAL AXES, SPRING MEANS ACTING BETWEEN THE OUTRIGGERS AT POINTS ABOVE THE PIVOTAL POINTS OF THE OUTRIGGERS, SAID SPRING MEANS SERVING TO BIAS THE LOWER ENDS OF THE OUTRIGGERS LATERALLY OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO THEBASE, SAID OUTRIGGERS NORMALLY OCCUPYING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY ANGLED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE BASE, AND GROUND-ENGAGING SHOES ON THE LOWER ENDS OF THE OUTRIGGERS. 